HOW2 at the Heart of Teaching Excellence: The Hopwood Hall Approach

Hopwood Hall College, located in Greater Manchester, stands out for its strong focus on vocational education, offering practical, career-oriented courses designed to prepare students for the workforce. With state-of-the-art facilities and strong ties to industry, the college excels in fields such as construction, engineering, and healthcare, bridging the gap between education and employment.

In 2020, as part of a wider programme to bolster quality improvements across the college, Hopwood Hall expanded its focus on teaching and learning, creating new Advanced Practitioner roles dedicated to key activities such as induction, observations, CPD training, and departmental reviews. 

To support its expanded focus on teaching, learning, and assessment (TLA) practices, Hopwood Hall College sought a scalable quality assurance solution to foster a learner-centred and autonomous approach to continuing professional development (CPD). The college selected the HOW2 Platform as the ideal solution, offering ²⁴⁄₇ access to individualised, easily accessible expertise.

The HOW2 Platform not only provided Hopwood Hall’s entire staff with access to over 160 evidence-based teaching (EBT) techniques but also offered tools to promote and encourage shared professional learning. This empowered educators to engage in both self-directed and collaborative development, refining their teaching practices while driving measurable improvements in student outcomes.

Four years after adopting the HOW2 Platform, Hopwood Hall has witnessed a profound impact across its 19 departments, and a culture of innovation and collaboration among educators at all levels. For early career teachers, the platform has provided accessible teaching techniques that have built their confidence and competence, while experienced staff at the college have found the platform both refreshing and inspiring.

This impact is reflected in evaluation forms, which consistently rate CPD sessions as 100% either good or outstanding, with 60% achieving the highest rating. ​“It reminds people of techniques they’ve used in the past and introduces them to new ways of applying techniques they might already know,” explains Alison Loughnane, Teaching and Learning Quality Manager.

What’s truly impressive, though, is how the platform has been embedded into every aspect of the college’s CPD programmes — an approach that has undoubtedly contributed to its success.

This approach is demonstrated in HH’s Early Careers Programme, which focuses on fostering dual professionalism and supporting educators as they transition into teaching.

Designed for those new to the profession, many of whom come directly from industry without formal teaching qualifications, the programme addresses specific challenges associated with working in FE, such as managing diverse learner engagement levels and the need to embed English and Maths into lessons.

Each week, participants are introduced to HOW2 techniques that tackle these challenges. Led by Angie [insert name], a Quality Advanced Practitioner and teacher trainer, the sessions model practical applications of techniques from the platform, providing clear examples of how they can be implemented in teaching practice. 

Participants trial these strategies in their own teaching environments, with follow-up sessions offering opportunities to reflect on their experiences. Peer observations and collaborative discussions, supported by the platform’s notes feature, foster a supportive learning community where educators share insights and refine their practice together. 

By combining hands-on application, feedback, and reflection, the Early Careers Programme empowers new teachers with the skills and confidence to succeed while embedding evidence-based practices into their teaching.